Species composition of the biospere
- Intricate webs of interacting organisms
- 2,000,000 species are known
- 18,000 plants & animals discovered per year
- estimated 87% of Eukaryotas unknown
- Reflects billions of ways organisms have adapted, over and over, to a changing planet
- Humans have altered 75% of ice-free surface
- alters species composition

“Lines of the geography of plants” by Humboldt, 1817


Species are spatially arranged

Species are spatially arranged


Similar biological communities reside within our biomes

Climate drives broad distribution of terrestrial biomes

Biomes have distinct soil types

Species distribution varies within biomes


Seasons can impact species distribution

Migration can cross many biomes: Birds
Species may also be adapted for seasonal habitats


Niches define the limiting factors for a species

Tolerance Range: Coral Reefs

Ecological niches exist in n-dimensions

Distribution within biological communities


Species distributions are related to their niche space

Niches often overlap for different species


Ranges versus distribution: Crocodile

Ranges versus distribution: Plants

Species distributions: Coconut tree
